Bar groups prepare to evaluate judge candidates

Virginia bar groups have announced their procedures for vetting candidates for the federal district judgeship to be vacated by the decision by Judge James Spencer to take senior status.

Spencer has announced he will become a senior judge on March 25 next year.

Besides the Virginia State Bar, as many as eight lawyers’ associations may make recommendations to Virginia’s two U.S. senators who could influence the selection made by President Obama.

The VSB’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee is taking applications through June 7 and will conduct interviews of candidates on July 8. The VSB asks candidates to submit a résumé, a brief writing sample and responses to a questionnaire available on the VSB website.

The Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys also are asking for résumés or CVs, the VSB questionnaires and writing samples. Those groups do not conduct interviews of candidates.